Method for attaching bracket means to an imperforate support

ABSTRACT

Bracket means, method and apparatus for securing an article such as an electrical wiring box to a sheet metal support, characterized in that the bracket means includes at least one stamped point extending downwardly into engagement with the support, said bracket containing an orientation opening adjacent the point. To effect penetration of the support by the points and crimping of the points relative to the support, cooperating jaw means are provided on opposite sides of the bracket and the support, one jaw face member having a male projection extending into the orientation opening to properly align the jaws relative to the points.

United States Patent Arnold, Jr. July 4, 1972 54 METHOD FOR ATTACHING BRACKET [56] References Cited MEANS TO AN IMPERFORATE UNITED STATES PATENTS SUPPORT 1,497,339 6/1924 McCann ..29/5 l3 [72] Inventor: William 0. Arnold, Jr., Parkersburg, W. 1 346 007 2/1932 L i I 2,495,009 H1950 Kiessling.... Assigneez Union Insulating C p y Inc. Parke Werner b ,W. V

5 mg a Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon [22] Filed; March 17, 1970 Attorney-Lawrence E. Laubscher [2i] Appl. No.: 8,116 [57] ABSTRACT m Application Data Bracket means, method and apparatus for securing an article I such as an electrical wlrlng box to a sheet metal support, DIVISIO" 733,642, y 1968, characterized in that the bracket means includes at least one 3,522,924. stamped point extending downwardly into engagement with the support, said bracket containing an orientation opening U.S. l 3, l FF, adjacent the point To effect penetration of the upport the 29/211 points and crimping of the points relative to the support, [5 ll"- cooperaling jaw means are provided on opposite ides of [he 0 bracket and the support one jaw face member having a male 1 13/1 i FF projection extending into the orientation opening to properly align the jaws relative to the points.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures l 24 l6w-,

METHOD FOR A'ITACHING BRACKET MEANS TO AN IMPERFORATE SUPPORT The present application is a divisional application of the parent application Ser. No. 733,642 filed May 31, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,924.

In the patented prior art as shown by the patents to Palmer U.S. Pat. No. Re 25,593, Appleton U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,758, Clark U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,763 and Magee U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,747 various bracket means of the support penetrating type have been proposed for securing an electrical wiring box to a wooden stud or other support. In general, these brackets are hammered to efiect penetration of pointed extensions into the support, which hammering generally imparts undesirable jolts and impact vibrations to the box that are especially detrimental in the case of a box formed by molding from a synthetic plastic insulating material, or a box in which the electrical components are already mounted.

Furthermore, as shown by the patents to Babyak U.S. Pat. No. 2,802,383, Bowman U.S. Pat. No. 1,433,775. Barrel] US. Pat. No. 1,142,797 and Tuttle U.S. Pat. No. 1,176,793, various pliers-type tools have been proposed in the prior art including pivotally connected jaws having faces adapted to secure metal parts together by crimping, clenching or bendmg.

The present invention was developed to provide an improved method and apparatus for readily connecting electrical wiring boxes (preferably, but not exclusively, of the molded insulation type) to a sheet metal support, use being made of an improved bracket containing a tool orientation opening adjacent one or more prestarnped points. In accordance with a primary object of the present invention, the tool means includes a pair of pivotally connected jaws one of which has a jaw face including a male projection adapted for insertion within the orientation opening, thereby to align a companion female jaw member relative to the points on the opposite side of the support therefrom. Upon compression of the jaw members toward each other, the support is initially penetrated by the points, whereupon the points are bent inwardly toward each other to rigidly secure the bracket to the support.

In accordance with another object of the invention, the tool means for effecting penetration of the support by the points and subsequent crimping of the points includes a pair of pivotally connected jaws that are operable by a pair of pivotally connected levers, the adjacent free ends of corresponding ones of the levers and jaws also being pivotally connected. Stop means are provided for preventing operation of the jaws to a position in which the pivot shafis and the corresponding links are locked in an overcenter position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the manner in which the mounting bracket is fastened to a sheet metal channel-shaped stud;

F IGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with certain parts broken away, of the fastening tool; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed sectional views illustrating the manner in which the stamped points are caused to penetrate and clinch the support.

Referring now to the drawing, the sheet metal bracket 2 is formed by stamping from a planar blank and is specifically designed to fasten a molded plastic electrical wiring box 4 to a sheet metal channel-shaped stud 6. Thus, one side edge of the bracket is embedded (as shown in FIG. 2) or otherwise fastened to the box, whereby when the box is arranged adjacent the stud, the central portion of the bracket extends over the stud. The blank is pre-stamped to define two pairs of identical parallel downwardly extending points 8, l0 and 12, 14 respectively, adjacent the longitudinal central axis of the blank. Between each pair of points, the blank contains an orientation opening 16 which serves to properly orient a fastening or crimping tool 20 (FIG. 4) relative to the bracket.

More particularly, the orientation opening 16 is adapted to receive a male orientation projection 22 that extends downwardly from the planar lower surface 24 of a male jaw face member 26. This male jaw face is adapted to cooperate with a concave female jaw face member 28 the diameter of which is at least as great as the spacing distance between the pair of stamped points.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the male and female jaw members 26, 28 are adjustably connected in an opposed manner between the free ends of a pair of jaws 30, 32, respectively, that are pivotally connected intermediate their ends by a pivot shaft 34. The jaws are operable by a pair of operating levers 36, 38 that are connected intermediate their ends by another pivot shaft 40. The free ends of levers 36 and 38 are pivotally connected with the free ends of jaws 30 and 32 by first and second pivot means 44 and 46, respectively. The levers 36 and 38 and jaws 30 and 32 are biased apart to the open position by suitable spring means 48. It is apparent that as levers 36 and 38 are compressed toward each other, jaws 30 and 32 are similarly compressed, the pivot shaft 40 being displaced to the right relative to the plane 50 containing pivot shafis 44 and 46. In accordance with one feature of the invention, a stop abutment portion 32a is provided on jaw 32 to prevent the pivot shaft 40 from being displaced to an overcenter locked position relative to the plane 50.

OPERATION Assume that it is desired to secure to a sheet metal channel stud 6 a plastic or metal electrical wiring box 4 to which is attached a stamped bracket 2. The box is positioned adjacent the stud with the stamp points 8, l0, l2 and 14 extending downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the stud as shown in FIG. 5. The tool is then arranged with the jaws straddling the side wall of the stud and with the male projection 22 extending into the orientation opening 16. At this time, the lower concave jaw member 28 is automatically positioned coaxially beneath the pair of stamped points l2, l4 whereupon the operating levers are compressed to cause points 12 and 14 to penetrate the stud wall portion interposed between the jaws. Upon further compression of the jaws, the points engage the concave surface of the female jaw face 28 and are crimped toward each other, as shown in FIG. 6, to rigidly and permanently clench the bracket to the stud. Upon release of the operating lever, the jaws spring open, whereby the tool may be displaced laterally until the male projection is inserted into the opening 16 between the points 8 and 10. The levers are again compressed as described above, whereupon the points are caused to penetrate the stud and to be clenched to the position shown in FIG. 6.

Of course, various modifications may be made in the apparatus described. For example, instead of crimping the points inwardly toward each other, it is conceivable that the female anvil could be so designed as to cause outward spreading of the points following penetration of the stud wall. It is apparent also that instead of forming the points at the edge of the stamped plate, they may be stamped from a central body portion of the plate, if desired. Furthennore, in certain cases, it may be desirable to provide three or more stamped points arranged around the orientation opening and extending normal to the plate. While generally these points are equally spaced from the opening, certain minor variations in spacing distance is permissible, as long as the maximum spacing distance between any two points to be simultaneously crimped is less than the diameter of the concave anvil.

According to another modification, adjustable cam means may be bolted on jaw 32 for contacting jaw 30 to limit the extent of opening of the jaws by the spring. The cam is approximately five-eighths inch in diameter and has a hole positioned of! center to effect adjustment of the open space between the jaws. It is obvious that other changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of attaching a sheet metal bracket to an imperforate sheet metal support, comprising the steps of stamping a sheet metal blank to define a bracket including an orientation opening and a plurality of stamped points arranged about and spaced generally equally from said orientation opening, said points extending on the same side from, and being arranged generally normal to, said blank;

arranging said bracket with the extremities of said points in engagement with an imperforate portion of said support;

arranging a planar anvil on the side of said bracket remote from the support, said anvil including an integral male positioning projection extending into said orientation opening;

arranging a unitary rigid concave anvil on the opposite side of said support from said points and colinear with the axis of said orientation opening, said anvil having a radius greater than the spacing distance between said opening and said points;

and progressively compressing said anvils together to initially effect penetration of the support by said points, and subsequently to effect simultaneous crimping of said points toward positions generally parallel with and on the opposite side of the support from said bracket. 

1. A method of attaching a sheet metal bracket to an imperforate sheet metal support, comprising the steps of stamping a sheet metal blank to define a bracket including an orientation opening and a plurality of stamped points arranged about and spaced generally equally from said orientation opening, said points extending on the same side from, and being arranged generally normal to, said blank; arranging said bracket with the extremities of said points in engagement with an imperforate portion of said support; arranging a planar anvil on the side of said bracket remote from the support, said anvil including an integral male positioning projection extending into said orientation opening; arranging a unitary rigid concave anvil on the opposite side of said support from said points and colinear with the axis of said orientation opening, said anvil having a radius greater than the spacing distance between said opening and said points; and progressively compressing said anvils together to initially effect penetration of the support by said points, and subsequently to effect simultaneous crimping of said points toward positions generally parallel with and on the opposite side of the support from said bracket. 